SINGAPORE, March 5 — The reputations of local universities have risen among academics again, according to the 2013 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings released this morning.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) inched up a spot to 22nd, while Nanyang Technological University (NTU) moved to the 71th-80th band, up from the 81-90th band last year. Among universities in Asia, NUS ranked second behind Japan’s University of Tokyo, with NTU coming in 13th.

The rankings are based on 16,639 responses from senior academics around the world. The poll asked academics to nominate no more than 15 of the best institutions in their narrow field of expertise, based on their experience and knowledge.

American universities dominated the rankings this year, taking seven of the top 10 places. Harvard University took the top spot, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cambridge University, while Oxford University climbed two places to finish fourth. The University of Tokyo was the top-ranked Asian institution at No. 9, after it slipped one spot in this year’s rankings.

According to Times, the top six’s membership has remained consistent since the first rankings were conducted in 2011, with the gap between it and the chasing pack widening each year.

The latest rankings, however, showed the two local universities making steady improvements over the past three years. In 2011, NUS was ranked 27th, while NTU was placed in the 91-100th band.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, president of NUS, felt the latest ranking was a strong recognition of the university’s commitment to delivering “high quality education and research of global impact”. With two Singapore universities in the top 100, NTU president Professor Bertil Andersson said it shows that the republic is known for being “a knowledge-based city driven by innovation and technology” despite being a small country.
Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education Rankings, said: “It seems clear that Singapore’s academy is increasingly recognised by scholars as a world-leading destination for research and innovation. Both universities are rising in the reputation table and in the overall World University Rankings, which are based on objective performance indicators.

“Now is clearly a very exciting time for Singapore, which is establishing itself at the heart of the boom in East Asian higher education and gaining ground on the traditional Western elite.” — Today

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — More Malaysians are making the daily commute across the Causeway to study in Singapore public schools, the republic’s Straits Times (ST) reported today despite a burgeoning education hub featuring top-notch foreign institutions in Johor’s Iskandar area.

Citing school bus operators ferrying Malaysian students to and from the narrow straits separating the two countries, the daily reported a growing passenger load despite the recent hike in education fees for foreigners at all levels — from primary all way through to pre-university.

A Malaysian student now has to pay between S$350 (RM874) and S$700 (RM 1,748) a month, up from between S$115 (RM287.17) and S$170 (RM424.51) from last year at Singapore’s public schools, the paper reported, adding that independent schools there had also upped their fees for foreigners.

“The parents want their children to have more job options in the future and having English is one way to make sure they are on the right track,” Janet Lee, 43, was quoted saying.

Lee’s family owns the biggest Singapore-Malaysia school bus operator, Century Bus, which the daily reported had seen a five per cent increase in the number of students it ferries since last year.

Century Bus estimates that there are at least 2,000 students, half of whom are Malaysians ferried to school by the company’s buses, the paper reported.

Another private school bus operator, Lee Chee Chen, 60, told the paper his Malaysian passengers have nearly doubled from the 18 students he had last year.

Malaysian parents interviewed by the paper admitted the increase in the fees was a strain on their wallets, but said they were willing to put up with it for the benefits of an English-medium.

“The lack of an English-speaking environment means fewer job opportunities for my daughter,” said Yap Nyet Ling, 48, who had put her college-age daughter through 12 years of education in Singapore.

“Malaysian Chinese schools focus on Chinese rather than English, and Malaysian international schools are more expensive than Singapore schools,” said Johor tutor Cindy Seah, 33, who sends her two primary-age daughters to school in Singapore.

Malaysian parents, especially those in Johor, have been sending their children to study in Singapore schools for years.

EduCity, a 242.81-hectare education hub developed by Iskandar Investment Berhad, has managed to pull several international schools to set up branches in Johor.

However, the schools have complained of bureaucratic hurdles when setting up shop in the southern state’s economic corridor.-Malaysian Insider

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Quranic Verse For The Day

And by the sun and its brightness. And by the moon as it follows it (the sun). And by the day as it shows up (the suns) brightness. And by the night as it conceals it (the sun). And by the heaven and Him Who built it. And by the earth and Him Who spread it. And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul, etc.), and Him Who perfected him in proportion.Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him. Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds).( Demi matahari dan sinarnya di pagi hari. Demi bulan apabila ia mengiringi. Demi siang apabila ia menampakkan diri. Demi malam apabila ia menutupi. Demi langit dan seluruh binaannya. Demi bumi dan yang ada di hamparannya. Demi jiwa dan penyempurnaannya. Allah mengilhamkan sukma keburukan (kefasikan) dan kebaikan (ketaqwaan). Beruntunglah siapa yang mensucikannya dan rugilah siapa yang mengotorinya. ).(Asysams, Chapter 91 , Verse 1-10)